Special report on the Florida Gators soccer team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It was the second upset win for a Florida football team in as many days.
Last night, the No. 10 Gator football team won 23-13 over No. 7 Auburn. Tonight in the Donald R. Dizney Stadium, located on campus southwest from last night’s UF football win, the Gator fútbol team won 3-1 over Southeastern Conference preseason favorite and No. 12 Texas A&M.
With the win, Florida and South Carolina are the remaining unbeaten soccer teams in SEC play, as both are 4-0.
Sunday’s scoring:
A penalty kick led to the Gators first goal. In the seventh minute, Florida was awarded a penalty kick when TAMU’s Briana Alston received a yellow card after tackling Kit Loferski. Madison Alexander successfully converted the penalty kick at 6:06.
The second goal started when the Aggies were bringing the ball through the TAMU half. Parker Roberts shielded an Aggie from receiving the ball at midfield and Sammie Betters stepped in to take control of the ball. She brought the ball forward, sending it to Cassidy Lindley, located in the middle of the TAMU half. Lindley’s back pass found Vanessa Kara making a left side run through the Aggie box. She just got a foot on it before the Aggie goalkeeper could end the play. Kara’s 12-yard shot scored at the far corner at 17:00.
Kara scored again in the 67th minute. The play started when Roberts’ pass found Betters open in the middle of the Aggie half. Betters touched it immediately forward to Kara, who was making a run through the box. Kara one-touched it in from 12 yards for her third double-goal match of 2019.
The Aggies broke up the clean sheet in the 74th minute. Taylor Ziemer received the ball with back to goal at the top of the box. She used three touches to create space, scoring on a left-footed shot from 15 yards.
Worth Noting
* This is Florida’s second consecutive win versus a team among the United Soccer Coaches top-15 rankings. Last Sunday, Florida won 1-0 at then No. 15 Vanderbilt. Today, the Gators won 3-1 over No. 12 Texas A&M. The Gators are receiving votes on the United Soccer Coaches poll, but sits just outside the top 25 on the Oct. 1 poll.
* Florida last won six consecutive matches in the 2016 season when it went 7-0-1 from Oct. 20 through Nov. 18.
* Alexander’s score was Florida’s first successful penalty kick this season. Florida also received a PK at then No. 6 Florida State, but it was stopped.
* Kara turned in her third double goal match of the last six matches. She leads Florida in goals (8) and points (16).
* Both teams were without usual starters due to national team duties. Gator junior Deanne Rose is with Canada’s Senior National team for a friendly versus Japan in Shizuoka, Japan (4-0 Japan win). Freshman Ava Kuyken is with England for first qualifying round play for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship. England opened with an 8-0 win over Cyprus and Kuyken was among the starters in Saturday’s 3-0 win over host nation Belarus. Play concludes Tuesday versus Serbia. Jimena López, the Aggies’ assist and points leader, was away with a Mexico National Team commitment.
Records:
Florida: 8-4-0, 4-0-0 SEC
Texas A&M: 9-2-2, 3-1-0 SEC
What the Gators Said:
On today’ win:
“It’s a big win for us. Texas A&M is clearly one of the top teams in the league and has been for a while. For us to get this win is a really big confidence booster and just another step for us.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On Florida’s sixth consecutive win:
“We are thoughtful about what we take from each game. Our team has been very good at learning from each game. I still point to that tough schedule early – not a lot of fun when you are going through it – but it’s paying some dividends now.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On early lead:
“You can’t get complacent against a team like A&M. They are always aggressive and always dangerous.” – Florida Head Coach Becky Burleigh
On her penalty kick goal:
“Just took a deep breath. I knew it was important to get an early goal to change the momentum of the game. I put it into the side netting.” – junior Madison Alexander
On win against No. 12 Texas A&M:
“It puts us in a really good spot. We are trying to win the SEC this year. It’s a great win.” – junior Madison Alexander
On winning streak:
“It’s a testament to this team on how well we are doing right now. Once we picked up some momentum, we could keep going. Once you get that positive momentum, it’s easy to feed off that. We have the talent, it’s just being able to get it done. We work hard in practice, so to be able to come out tonight and be able to show it feels amazing.” – senior Sammie Betters
“It feels like things are clicking. We haven’t put too much stock into the momentum we’ve been gaining. We just talk about the next game and that’s the most important one. It’s a really good mentality for us.” – senior Vanessa Kara
On scoring eight goals in last six matches:
“[I work on] just not being so critical of myself and Becky [Burleigh] has helped me out with that. Finding joy – I love soccer and when I’m loving it, that’s when I play my best.” – senior Vanessa Kara
Next Up:
The Gators face a pair of SEC opponents in the next week.
Thursday, Oct. 10 at Mississippi
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Site: Ole Miss Soccer Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__olemisssports.com_sports_2018_7_20_facilities-2Dole-2Dfacilities-2Dsoccer-2Dstadium-2Dhtml.aspx&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Pj1b72awEP7pW3TkVinKPjQj_-SVkbAcW45dJPKAeEM&s=bt5Ghx4iDftbgKG8Wt4mJtBZ34AbT0SZWprGzpGkkNE&e= >
Television: none
Streaming Video: SEC Network +
Radio: ESPN 98.1 FM / 850 AM<http://www.wruf.com/listen-live/> with action with action called by Kyle Crooks
Live Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__statb.us_e_268370&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Pj1b72awEP7pW3TkVinKPjQj_-SVkbAcW45dJPKAeEM&s=wXAx_4RM1biXm9ui6I-TVhjyvN7rB3xb0WLIHx0zDms&e= >
Admission: Free
Sunday, Oct. 13 versus Kentucky
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Site: Donald R. Dizney Stadium<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_facilities_-3Fid-3D8&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Pj1b72awEP7pW3TkVinKPjQj_-SVkbAcW45dJPKAeEM&s=_S_y8Pz3pkMm6Q56R4EjVKaQ36FjObY-RDaRd8SAnpg&e= >
Television: none
Stream Video: SEC Network + with action called by Kyle Crooks and Matthew Stubbington
Radio: GatorVision with action with action called by Ryan Urquhart
Live Stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sidearmstats_wsoc_summary&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Pj1b72awEP7pW3TkVinKPjQj_-SVkbAcW45dJPKAeEM&s=KYQC9Plupeyq4-l1iLK_NT6Tgl2JwwxxB1FJc6AUdqE&e= >
Admission: Free
Promotions: Pink Game- All fans are encouraged to join the Gators and wear pink to the match in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness; Post-game Autographs – Members of the team will be signing autographs following the match outside of the team facility located on the south side of the stadium concourse.
No. 12 Texas A&M (9-2-2, 3-1-0 SEC) at RV Florida (8-4-0, 4-0-0 SEC
Stadium: Donald R. Dizney Stadium (676)
Weather: 85 degrees, winds ENE at 12 mph, 55% humidity
Goals by Period
1
2
Total
Texas A&M
0
1
1
Florida
2
1
3
Scoring Summary:
No.
Time
Team
Goal Scorer
Assist
1.
6:06
UF
Madison Alexander
PK
2.
17:00
UF
Vanessa Kara
Cassidy Lindley, Sammie Better
3.
66:05
UF
Vanessa Kara
Sammie Betters, Parker Roberts
4.
73:38
TAMU
Taylor Ziemer
Shots: Texas A&M 14, Florida 7
Saves: Texas A&M 2 (Shantel Hutton 2), Florida 4 (Susi Espinoza 4)
Cautions:
Yellow-Briana Alston/TAMU (6:06), Yellow-Madison Alexander/UF (37:42), Yellow-Sammie Betters/UF (79:50)